[clue-tech] So-called "smart" hosts.

[David Guntner]

T. Joseph Carter grabbed a keyboard and wrote:
> Okay, now that I am using Comcast for connection purposes, I have
> discovered an old pet peeve of mine: Discrimination based on connection
> class.  I have a valid IP, I have valid DNS, and I have a valid mailserver
> at the IP with the appropriate DNS entry.
>
> At least two major sites refuse my email because I am not using Comcast's
> so-called smarthost.  Now, I'm paranoid about my email.  I want to know if
> my mail is delivered or not, first of all, and I don't necessarily trust
> Comcast nor any other ISP whose admins I do not know and trust at least by
> reputation to not lose my mail, in either direction.
>
> Any suggestions, besides seeking professional assistance regarding this
> paranoia of mine?  ;)

Thanks to spam-bots (zombies or not) as well as other miscreants who abuse
address space that's used by end-users on providers such as Comcast, there
are sites which will simply refuse mail connections from within that
address space.  There's nothing you can really do about it, short of
changing to an ISP that doesn't have its user IP address space blocked by
providers like the ones you mention here.  Well that, or using your ISP's
mailserver as a smarthost relay. :-)

           --Dave